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Former inspector general of police Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun on Thursday pleaded guilty before the International Crimes Tribunal for his role in the July–August 2024 atrocities, offering to testify as an approver against Bangladesh’s ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan.

Mamun admitted involvement in the violent crackdown and expressed willingness to provide evidence implicating both the political leaders and himself in connection with the charges.

The three-member tribunal, led by Justice Golam Mortuza Mozumder, formally indicted all three accused and announced that the trial would proceed with the recording of witness statements.

The tribunal scheduled the prosecution’s opening statement for August 3, followed by the beginning of witness testimony on August 4.

From the dock, Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun read out his written statement — ‘I plead guilty. I am willing to voluntarily make a full and truthful disclosure of all circumstances within my knowledge relating to this case.’

His statement came as the tribunal read out five charges against him. When asked whether he pleaded guilty or not, Mamun confirmed his admission without hesitation.

The tribunal noted that the remaining two accused — Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal—remain absconding. As a result, the charges could not be formally read out or explained to them.  

All three accused — Sheikh Hasina, former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun, and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal — have been formally indicted under Sections 3(2)(a), (g), and (h), read with Sections 4(1), (2), and (3) of the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act, 1973.

They face charges of abetment, conspiracy, incitement, complicity, and failure to prevent crimes such as murder, attempted murder, torture, and other inhuman acts committed during the July 2024 uprising in Bangladesh.

The first charge states that between July 1 and August 5, 2024 — specifically on July 14 at about 5:00pm–6:00pm — Sheikh Hasina, the then prime minister and head of the ruling Awami League and the 14-party alliance, made inflammatory remarks at a press conference.

She reportedly referred to the student protesters of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement as ‘sons and grandchildren of razakars’ (wartime collaborators), while they were peacefully demanding reforms to the public sector recruitment system.

According to the charge, her comments incited members of her party, law enforcement agencies, and affiliated groups to attack peaceful demonstrators.

Following her remarks, activists from the ruling party’s student wing, Bangladesh Chhatra League, allegedly launched violent attacks on student protesters at Dhaka University and across the country.

Ministers, lawmakers, and political leaders from the Awami League and its allies are also accused of acting on her incitement to suppress the protest movement.

The second charge against Sheikh Hasina alleged that on July 14, 2024, at about 11:00pm, during the height of the anti-discrimination student protests, she held a phone conversation with ASM Maksud Kamal, then vice-chancellor of Dhaka University.

During the call, Hasina, the serving as prime minister and head of ruling Awami League and its 14-party alliance, reportedly referred to the peaceful protesters as ‘razakars’ and said they ‘should be hanged or killed.’ She stated that she had already instructed law enforcement agencies — including the police, Rapid Action Battalion, and Border Guard Bangladesh—to act accordingly.

The charge further stated that on July 18, 2024, Hasina spoke by phone with her cousin Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, then mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation. In that conversation, she allegedly ordered the use of lethal force—including live ammunition, drones, and helicopters—against the unarmed protesters. She also directed security agencies to carry out widespread arrests, detentions, and acts of torture across the country.

Following her orders, security forces are accused of opening fire on protesters, using helicopters to shoot from above, and causing mass casualties. The crackdown allegedly killed over 1,500 people and seriously injured more than 25,000, leaving many blind or permanently disabled. Victims included women and children.

The charge also stated that Hasina ordered her party’s armed supporters to set fire to key national infrastructure—including the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban (Parliament), Bangladesh Television headquarters, and several metro rail stations—to falsely blame the protest movement and justify further violence.

According to the charge, the then home minister Asaduzzaman Khan and the then then IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun directly executed Hasina’s orders. Both men allegedly supervised and coordinated operations using lethal weapons, drones, and helicopters to target demonstrators.

On July 27, 2024, Asaduzzaman Khan and Mamun are accused of jointly authorising another round of coordinated attacks. Law enforcement agencies, under their command, reportedly launched widespread assaults involving live fire, abduction, unlawful confinement, and torture—constituting crimes against humanity.

The third charge alleges that on July 16, 2024, at about 2:00pm, police, ruling Awami League activists, and university officials confronted unarmed student protesters at Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur.

As students began demonstrating peacefully in front of the university gate, police and Awami League cadres reportedly opened fire without warning. The protest quickly dispersed due to widespread injuries, but student leader Abu Sayeed remained standing, arms raised in defiance.

Acting on direct instructions from the three accused—Sheikh Hasina, Asaduzzaman Khan, and Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun—police, including Rangpur Metropolitan Police officers, the university vice-chancellor Md Hasibur Rashid, and local Awami League leaders, allegedly oversaw the operation.

ASI Md Amir Hossain and constable Sujan Chandra Roy are accused of shooting Abu Sayeed multiple times in the chest at close range, killing him on the spot.

Sayeed’s body was taken to Rangpur Medical College Hospital. Authorities allegedly attempted to conceal the true cause of death by filing a false first information report. Forensic experts were reportedly pressured to alter the autopsy report four times. In a further attempt to deflect blame, a criminal case was allegedly filed against Sayeed’s fellow activists based on fabricated information.

These acts, the charge stated, constitute inhuman crimes under international law and fall within the category of crimes against humanity.

The fourth charge relates to the March to Dhaka programme, organised by the central committee of the student movement, which called for nationwide supporters to converge on the capital on August 5, 2024.

As thousands began arriving in Dhaka, law enforcement was reportedly deployed under a coordinated plan and direct orders from the three accused. A heavily armed police presence was stationed around Dhaka University and Chankharpool to block and suppress the movement.

According to the charge, acting on wireless orders from then Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner Habibur Rahman— and under the on-site command of joint commissioner Sudip Kumar Chakravarty —police opened fire on peaceful protesters.

The operation was allegedly supported and directed by additional deputy commissioner Shah Alam Mohammad Akhtarul Islam, assistant commissioner Mohammad Imrul, and inspector Arshad Hossain. Constables Sujan Hossain, Imaj Hossain Imon, and Nasirul Islam are accused of deliberately shooting and killing six unarmed protesters at Chankharpool.

The deceased were identified as Shahriar Khan Anas, Sheikh Mahadi Hasan Junaid alias Mostakin, Md Yakub, Md Rakib Howlader, Mohammad Ismamul Haque, Manik Mia, also known as Shahrik.

The charge framed these killings as part of a broader, systematic attack on civilians and alleged that they amount to crimes against humanity.

The fifth charge alleged that on August 5, 2024, at about 4:00pm, a deadly attack on peaceful protesters occurred near Ashulia Police Station under the direct supervision of local lawmaker Mohammad Saiful Islam and on the orders of deputy inspector general of police Syed Nurul Islam.

Local police, along with armed members of the ruling Awami League, allegedly opened fire on unarmed civilian demonstrators, killing five individuals on the spot.

The victims were identified as Sazzad Hossain Sojal, As-Sabur, Tanzil Mahmud Sujoy, Bayezid Bostami  and Abul Hossain. Another person was severely injured but remained unidentified.

After the shootings, police reportedly collected all six bodies—including the injured individual showing signs of life—and loaded them onto a pedal van, later transferring them to a police pickup truck.

According to the charge, police then poured petrol on the bodies and set them on fire. The injured protester, still alive at the time, was given no medical assistance. Instead, officers allegedly added more fuel and wood to the fire, ensuring all six were burned beyond recognition.

The charge accused the police and associated political operatives of committing the deliberate murder of six unarmed protesters — an act described as a grave crime against humanity.